Personal Contract Purchase (also known as PCP) could allow you to get your hands on a new car without needing to stump up a significant sum of cash all at once.
One of the major selling points of a PCP car finance car deal is that it could mean you can get your hands on a new or nearly new car that you could not otherwise afford. It'll be more reliable than an older car, require less maintenance and, like for like, will be cheaper to run. It'll also likely come with a warranty for ultimate peace of mind.
Something to consider though is that a PCP car finance deal represents a significant long-term financial commitment because you pay for the car over monthly instalments, so it might not be for everyone.
While PCP car finance deals are predominantly offered on new cars, you'll also find them on used cars for sale as well or via a third party plan which you then use to get behind the wheel of the new or used car of your choice.
A Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) is essentially a long-term financial agreement which usually takes the form of a lump sum deposit followed by smaller monthly payments. At the end of the agreement, a PCP gives you the option to buy the car by settling a final balloon payment.
How does a PCP car deal make financial sense for the dealer, manufacturer or finance company? Well, it's because your lump sum and monthly payments cover the cost of the car's depreciation as well as paying the lender a small premium on the loan.
It sounds like complicated maths but the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) requires that everything is clearly broken down when looking at a PCP car deal. So, as well as knowing your initial deposit, monthly payments and ballon sum final payment, the length of the agreement will also be clearly labelled as will the interest you're paying on the finance, the agreed annual mileage and the cost per mile if you exceed it.
Perhaps the most revealing figure is the offer price – it shows you exactly what you're paying versus the on-the-road price if you were buying the car upfront.
You can check out the latest and best PCP car deals below, while further down the page you'll find more info about PCP deals, from the deposit needed to the optional final payment you can make.
The Audi Q4 e-tron is a posh and practical electric SUV crammed with technology and with an excellent battery range. This Sport 45 model comes with an Audi deposit contribution of over £10,000, which helps drop monthly payments down to £475 over a four-year PCP deal with a 6.9% APR. The mileage limit is a useful 10,000 per year, too.
The Dacia Jogger is one of the cheapest ways to get a brand new car in which you can take six mates along for the ride. Somewhat confusingly, the top of the range Jogger Extreme Hybrid is the cheapest on PCP at £149 a month on a 25-month PCP deal at 4.9% APR. If you're looking for a smaller deposit, the same car is £339 a month with just £339 down on a 48-month 7.9% APR deal.
Deposit: £6076 (+ £250 Dacia deposit contribution)
Monthly payments: 24 x £149 (£3576)
Optional final payment: £16,094
Total payable: £26,005
Mileage per year: 6000
Representative APR: 4.9%
Deal ends: 30 June 2025
The Ford Puma is one of the UK's best-selling cars. Picking up where the now-departed Fiesta left off, the Puma is fun to drive, surprisingly spacious for what's actually quite a small car, and very well equipped right across the range. We've chosen an Explorer Titanium, which is the entry-level trim, to keep the monthly cost low. For added convenience, Ford has lots of new Puma models waiting in stock, meaning you could be behind the wheel of a brand-new car in just a week.
The Hyundai Tucson is one of the cooler and more sophisticated family SUV options on the market. Hyundai is offering £2000 deposit contributions and a relatively low 4.9% APR on PCP deals on the hybrid, plug-in hybrid and regular models, the latter of which we've chosen here. We've opted for an entry-level Tucson Advance trim, as all models are well equipped, which starts at £376 a month.
One of the best-selling cars in the UK right now, the Kia Sportage has a striking design, loads of interior space and is packed with plenty of equipment. Kia is now offering the Sportage Shadow model with the option of paying no deposit and a £1000 deposit contribution. As with most PCP deals, though, you can adjust things – if you do have a deposit, you could drive down your monthly costs further. For example, put £5000 down, and your monthly payment drops to £373.
The Mercedes C-Class might be one of the smaller Mercedes saloon cars, but the latest model feels more like the larger, luxury flagship S-Class than ever before. The C-Class features a fantastic, tech-filled interior and superb long-distance cruising ability that make it feel every bit the premium saloon, while a handy £3000 deposit contribution helps you on your way. Opt for the hybrid C300e model and get £4250 off and 3.9% APR.
We’ve said that the MG4 is the best budget electric car, and when it’s available with 0% APR it’s even more attractive. You can drive around in an MG4 SE 125kW 51kWh model for just £169 per month, and if you want the more powerful, longer-range models then they’re just £179, £199 or £279. MG is also giving buyers of the MG4, MG4 XPOWER and MG HS PHEV a £1000 extra discount, but only if you opt for a 49-month 2.9% APR deal.
The Nissan Qashqai is one of the UK's best-selling cars, and the head-turning facelift of the current model makes it one of the most distinctive. The new look doesn't come at the cost of the big reason it's so popular as a family SUV though, as features like fold-flat rear seats and wide rear door openings are all present and correct. This deal is for a Qashqai N-Connecta with 5.49% APR and a £2500 towards your deposit , while Nissan offers varying deposit contributions and APR depending on the model.
The Toyota Corolla is an automotive institution, much like its big rival, the Volkswagen Golf. The latest Corolla is the best yet, too, with an extremely reliable, frugal hybrid powertrain, sharp looks and stacks of equipment offered even from the entry-level Icon trim level. All Corolla models, including the estate, are offered with £2000 towards your deposit and a low 2.9% APR.
The Volkswagen Golf has a reputation as the default choice of family car that stretches back decades. The latest model has more competition than ever, yet it remains one of the best cars in its class, especially now a recent update has made its infotainment system more user friendly. There's £3000 deposit contributions across the range, but we've chosen a Golf Match model for its combination of equipment and value.
The initial payment for a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) used to represent around 10 per cent of the car's value. However, some manufacturers offer substantially reduced amounts, even dropping them to the same amount as one of your monthly payments to encourage you to sign up for a deal.
Manufacturers sometimes contribute to the deposit too, often quite significantly in the case of electric vehicles in particular, although make sure you're aware of the interest rate you're signing up for - sometimes a large deposit contribution masks a higher rate. To get a good handle on the financial implications, compare the difference between the On-The-Road (OTR) price you'd pay with just cash with the Total Amount Payable (TAP) on the PCP deal for a clear-cut understanding of the costs.
After the deposit, the lion's share of the expenditure when you sign up for PCP car finance comes from the monthly payments. You make these instalments, spread over periods of two to five years, although most PCP deals offered tend to be 48-month deals. In general, opting for a shorter contract results in reduced interest payments.
The agreed annual mileage limit is crucial as it helps to determine the vehicle's value at the contract's end. Exceeding this limit results in extra charges, typically around 10p per mile. To avoid unexpected costs, it's advisable to set a realistic mileage limit when arranging your agreement. In most PCP car deals, annual mileage is capped at 10,000 miles, but check the terms to ensure this is not less, as the small print on some deals caps the number of miles to just 6000 in order to give an appealingly low monthly payment to generate attention.
The major advantage of a PCP deal over leasing a car is that at the end of a PCP finance agreement you can make an extra payment, often called a balloon payment, in order to own the car. This payment is based on how much the car is worth at the end, plus any extra costs – for example, if you went over your mileage limit.
You don't have to make this payment – you can return the car or swap it for a new one. If the car is in really good shape and hasn't been driven a lot, it might be worth more than this final payment, and that extra value can go towards your next car. If you choose to pay and keep the car, you'll be the only owner named on its V5C logbook. But remember, opting to keep the car usually comes with an extra 'option to purchase' fee to factor in, too.
With a PCP deal, you have to stick to certain rules. For example, you can't drive more than the agreed miles without incurring extra charges, and you'll need to service the car on time, as recommended by the manufacturer, and often at a main dealer. If the car gets damaged, you'll need to arrange to have it fixed at an approved workshop and pay for the repairs before the end of the deal.
It's also a good idea to think about getting Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance. This insurance helps cover the cost if your car is written off and it's worth less than what you still owe on the PCP agreement.
Keep me updated by email with the latest advice, news and offers from heycar.
By submitting you agree to our privacy policy